Your favourite new jazz song could be about to be released by one of these performers. Discover 6 new jazz players and singers for 2023!

Around the world in 2023 vibrant and exciting new jazz musicians are heading in fresh directions led by curiosity, soul, and pure talent. Many are encouraging exploration into the social and historical roots of the jazz genre, without making it a lecture, whilst working to bring jazz to new audiences of both listeners and other musicians.

Read on to discover six rising stars of the jazz scene – new takes on the genre from modern jazz singers, female bass players, and playful producers.

Endea Owens

Detroit-born Endea Owens is a bassist, composer, playing with her band The Cookout, appearing on Jon Baptiste’s We Are album and performing with H.E.R at Super Bowl LV. She’s also a dedicated philanthropist. 2023 sees her honoured as MAC Music Innovator for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, as well as paving the way for a debut album, Feel Good Music.

DOMi & JD BECK

Gen Z jazz! Young energetic duo DOMi & JD BECK’s music is peppered with lyrical and musical jokes and bounces with an enthusiasm that makes them stand out in a genre that’s often accused of being too guarded. Never fear, there’s still tricksy time signatures and fiendishly voiced chords to be found in their album NOT TiGHT that includes features from Herbie Hancock along with the likes of Anderson .Paak and Snoop Dogg. Expect more fun in 2023.

Julius Rodriguez

Rising jazz artist Julius Rodriguez plays multiple instruments and writes smart, intricate jazz compositions – if you haven’t heard his debut album Let Sound Tell All check it out, and keep an eye on his next moves live and on record.

Mali Obomsawin

Immerse yourself in Mali Obomsawin’s complex but effective meeting of traditional Indigenous music and free jazz. The singer grew up in an Abenaki reserve in Quebec and Maine. This year she’ll continue to create and explore beyond 2022 release Sweet Tooth.

Venna

Jazz-hiphop instrumentalist Venna keeps building on the success that’s previously seen him working with Stormzy-approved Knucks and touring with Yussef Dayes. As you explore Venna’s work expect to find neo-soul beats, whispering saxophone, and mellifluous bars.

Melanie Charles

Producer, vocalist, and flautist Melanie Charles should have been on everyone’s radar long before 2023. She has long draw attention to the Black foundations of jazz as well as its anti-establishment roots – listen to her podcast Make Jazz Trill Again¸ which she hosts with saxophonist Yunie Mojica. Charles’ 2021 remix album Y’all Don’t (Really) Care About Black Women reimagined releases by black female artists, encouraging listening with newly focused ears.  

Looking for new music in different genres? Check out these lists of rising artists in 2023:

Recording a jazz record this year? Release it onto streaming services for free with RouteNote. Send unlimited tracks to Spotify, Apple Music, Tencent Music and more, and let the world hear your compositions, whilst keeping total control over your music. Find out more here.